- Young authors and illustrators create and publish books with support from $37,354 Creativity for Schools grant
- Grants are available to schools, arts organisations and individual artists
- Part of the $2 million per year Creative Learning Program
Budding young authors and illustrators from East Victoria Park Primary School and Education Support Centre have been able to create and publish their books thanks to a $37,354 Creativity for Schools program grant.
The students officially launched their books today at the Victoria Park Library with professionally printed copies going on sale and proceeds to be donated to their P&C.
Lead by renowned junior fiction author Kristy Nita Brown, more than 150 students across Years four, five, and six embarked on a Book Builders Challenge to produce captivating works including picture books, chapter books and graphic novels.
The students explored narrative writing, illustrating, editing and the entire publishing process during 22 workshops where they were also joined by other experts in storytelling, illustration and publishing including Sean E Avery, Kylie Howarth, Ash Harrier, Aka, Kathryn Lefroy and Gabriel Evans.
The books were evaluated by industry leaders as part of the challenge and winners earned a professional print run of their work.
Creativity for Schools is part of the Cook Government’s $2 million per year Creative Learning
Program. Creativity for Schools offers grants to schools, arts organisations and individual artists in two categories: collaboration and residency.
The collaboration category awards up to $60,000 to projects and/or programs designed to connect Western Australian arts organisations and creative practitioners with schools. The residency category awards up to $20,000 to projects involving artists in residence in school environments.
More information about the program and upcoming funding rounds is available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Culture Industries website: .
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“It was an absolute delight to join students from East Victoria Park Primary School and Education Support Centre today for their book launch and to see the amazing results of their Book Builders Challenge program.
“Funded by a $37,354 grant from for the Cook Government’s Creativity for Schools program, the high standard of works produced clearly shows the benefits for students of opportunities to learn from industry professionals.
“The Creativity for Schools program supports young people to discover and develop their creative potential through culture and arts projects while also developing skills that they can apply to other areas of their learning.”
As stated by Victoria Park MLA Hannah Beazley:
“This is such a great initiative and one that I am sure will spark the imagination and creativity in many young children.
“Kristy is a local creative force and her commitment to developing creativity and confidence in our kids has been an inspiration to witness.
“I am so pleased to see the Cook Government doing the right thing for the children of Victoria Park and throughout Western Australia.”
As stated by author Kristy Nita Brown:
“It’s been wonderful to get the opportunity to work with staff and students at East Victoria Park Primary School and Education Support Centre on the Book Builders Challenge.
“I created the Book Builders Challenge to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real-world of independent publishing.
“The program is aligned with the WA curriculum and the aim is to ignite a lifelong passion for reading and writing while providing students with a platform to shine.
“While the book launch is the grand finale for the students, their teachers have already seen an increase in literacy engagement, writing and vocabulary skills which will continue to foster their creativity.”
